Citing "sources deep inside Trump World," a former associate of the president issued a major warning on Sunday.Ex-Trump insider Lev Parnas over the weekend noted the situation surrounding the Los Angeles protests, saying "the clock is ticking" as Trump has "troops in the streets, tanks on standby, a...

Ex-Trump insider Lev Parnas over the weekend noted the situation surrounding the Los Angeles protests, saying “the clock is ticking” as Trump has “troops in the streets, tanks on standby, and plans to crush the resistance.”

“I know a lot of you woke up this morning in shock—staring at the footage out of Los Angeles, asking yourselves: How could this happen? Is this real? Is this really happening in the United States of America? But let me be clear, folks—this is real. It is happening. And I need you to know that my sources deep inside Trump World have been warning me that what we witnessed overnight was no isolated event. It’s part of something much bigger. And what I have to tell you today is chilling,” he wrote.

“Yesterday, when Donald Trump deployed over 2,000 federal troops into Los Angeles under the justification of ‘restoring order,’ most headlines ran with it like it was some isolated act of retaliation—just another example of Trump punishing blue states. And yes, part of this is personal. Make no mistake: this is revenge against California, against Governor Gavin Newsom, and against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. But it’s not just about settling scores.”

According to Parnas, in reality, “This is about control.”

“What happened yesterday in Los Angeles was a test run—a dry rehearsal for something much, much bigger. I’ve been hearing from multiple trusted insiders that Trump’s inner circle—particularly Pete Hegseth and some of the more radicalized loyalists embedded at the Pentagon—are actively drafting operational plans for the mass mobilizations expected on June 14th,” he added. “This isn’t just about Trump’s birthday. This isn’t just about another vanity parade. This is about shutting down resistance.”

Parnas added that Trump “fears the American people rising up on June 14th, in all 50 states, with signs that say No Kings—with voices that remind the world that we are still a democracy.”

“That’s why he’s pushing for tanks. That’s why he wants the biggest military display America has seen since the Cold War. Because he wants the optics of power. He wants to smother the story before it even begins. He wants his parade to dominate the headlines, not the marchers in the streets fighting for democracy,” he said. “But I need you to understand this: According to my sources, there are discussions happening right now—within Trump’s most trusted circle—about invoking martial law if the protests ‘get out of hand.’ They’re looking for any excuse. Any video. Any act of violence. Any disruption. That’s all they need to justify a crackdown.”

He then warned people not to fall for a trap being set by Trump associates.

“And it gets worse. What I’m being told is that Trump allies—including elements connected to Proud Boys, III Percenters, and other far-right militia networks—are planning to infiltrate the June 14th protests. Not to support them. To sabotage them. Their goal? Create chaos. Spark confrontation. Trigger a response from law enforcement. And then hand Trump the justification he needs to clamp down,” Parnas wrote. “Let me say this loud and clear: We cannot give them that excuse.”

Parnas went on to encourage peace, and told protesters to “stay vigilant.”

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.worldOP
      183·
      3 days ago

      Peaceful resistance and outreach until we have the numbers. A small violent resistance will be incarcerated, dissuading people from protest out of fear for their safety, and play into the narrative that we are domestic threats justifying the Insurrection Act. It’s exactly how the Reichstag Fire emboldened Hitler against the communists.

      • SaltSong@startrek.websiteEnglish
        19·
        3 days ago

        Isn’t this post taking about how peaceful protests are going to be used as cover by bad actors to make violent protests?

        So, no violent protests. No peaceful protests. What’s left to us?

          • SaltSong@startrek.websiteEnglish
            6·
            3 days ago

            I suppose I can see that. Aside from the advice elsewhere in this page to “just sit down,” is there any general advice on how to do that?

            • INeedMana@lemmy.world
              3·
              3 days ago

              I don’t know

              Fortunately
              but maybe “yet”…

              I Ducked https://activisthandbook.org/wellbeing/deescalation maybe one of the sources would be helpful?

              EDIT: purely what I (from my chair) think might work: (of course, don’t step outside your own boundaries, safety etc)

              • address the provocateur - to redirect the emotions from the police, so situationally it’s not their place to respond anymore
              • be calm and try to address that this is not the way we want to protest. “I understand that you are angry. I am too. But this is not the way we can change things, violence is not the answer…” - to dissipate the anger put out by the provocateur so it’s not picked up by non-provocateurs
              • probably if those will be organized, they will be moving in packs and pairs, so when you address one guy, another one will try to pick up the anger. That’s why it’s important that many of protesters are aware that provocations might be taking place and be ready to back you up with calming down

              EDIT2:

              • if you are successful they will be trying to trigger you. Be mindful of your tone and body language - your role is not to convince them, but to affect the mood around you. We are social creatures, the point is to not get to the point of a pack of angry wolves
              • remember that they don’t have to be a provocateur, they might be just a protester that is that angry at the situation. Be respectful, don’t get into accusation/blame game
              • remember that provocateurs don’t have to be bald burly men
        • PirateFrog@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          41·
          3 days ago

          The IWW used to have members pull security to route out planted agent provocateurs that were starting shit in mass strikes or protests. We will need that again.